Straight pull brake lever assembly



Sept. 19, 195o R. A. sANDBERG STRAIGHT PULL BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 194'? ITL/Er-:Zzr l RAY A SANDBERG- Spt. 19,` 1950 R. A. 'SANDBERG STRAIGHT BRAKE ASSEMBLY shuts-sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1947 63 RAY 'A 'SANoaE/es.

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 STRAIGHT PULL BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY Ray A. Sandberg, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Houdaille-Hershcy Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 19, 1947, Serial No. 762,019.

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in straight pull brake lever assemblies and more particularly concerns assemblies f this character which are especially adaptable for use as emergency brake levers in automobiles or the like.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved, simplified and eflicient straight pull brake lever assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a straight pull brake lever assembly improved supporting housing and pull rod guide structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pivotally related supporting housing and pull rod guide structure for a straight pull brake lever assembly.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a straight pull brake lever assembly an improved, simplified supporting housing and pivotal guide structure adapted to be made principally from simple sheet metal stampngs and adopted for high speed, economical mass production assembly Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved pivoted4 guide structure in a straight pull brake lever assembly.

It is also an object of the invention to provide improved means for controlling operation of the pull rod of a straight pull brake lever unit.

Other objects, features and advantages. of the present invention will be readily apparent from embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in sections of a straight pull brake lever assembly 'embodying the features of the invention;`

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view'of the handle end portion of the assembly;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line III-111 of Figure 2;

the following detailed description of a preferred Figure 4. is a vertical sectional view taken subbodying the features of the present invention comprises a pull rod I0 having a manipulating handle lI I at one end and connected at the other end to a brake actuating lever I2, the pull rod being pivotally guided by a supporting structure yI?. carried in use by a dash panel I 4 of an automobile, or the like. The assembly is of such a. character that inl order to setrthe brake the handle II is grasped and the pull rod I0 pulled toward the person operating the same in order to pivot the lever I2 which is appropriately pivotally mounted on a part of the vehicle with which associated and is connected with the emergency brakes of the vehicle through the medium of the usual cable, in a manner which is well known and for that reason has not been illustrated.

The pull rod I0 is preferably cylindrical and is reciprocably guided by means of a guide tube I5 which forms part of the guide assembly I3. The guide tube is of an internal diameter to 'ilt fairly closely about the pull rod I0 but permits freesliding movement of the handle therein' and l therethrough.

Directly supporting the guide tube l5 is a trunnion device I ,'I which is preferably constructed as a pair of complementary sheet metal stamping shells I8 and I9 providing opposite halves of the trunnion structure and rigidly engaging and supporting the guide tube I5.

Since the trunnion shells I8 and I9 are preferably of identical though reversely complementary form, a detailed description ofA one will sufce for the other and similar reference numerals are therefore applied to corresponding features thereof. Accordingly, each of the shells comprises a tube-embracing semi-cylindrical body 2l) formed with laterally extending attachment flanges 2| and 22 at the upper and lower longitudinal edges thereof, respectively. In assembly with the guide tube I5, the body portions 20 are brought into embracing relation to the tube and the opposing flanges 2l and 22, respectively of the shells are secured together as by spot welding.

To retain the guide tube I5 against relative rotary and axial movement Within the trunnion shell structure I1, the tube is preferably formed with an upwardly punched retaining flange structure 23 which in assembly is received within complementary keeper socket offsets 24 in the respective body portions `20 adjacent to the bases of the upper attachment ilanges 2| (Fig. 4).

Meansfor retaining the pull rod I0 in any of va plurality of incremental brake take up and setting positions comp-risesl a series of forwardly shouldered ratchet teeth progressively and selectively engageable with detent balls 21 carried in ball apertures 28 formed in predetermined spaced relation in the underside of the guide tube I5. Coiled biasing springs 29 are seated in a spring Thus, when the rod i is pulled rearwardly' through the guide tube 15,.. the detent balls 21 successively engage with the detent4 teeth and hold the rod against retraction.. The balls.vv 21 arespaced apart half the draw lengtlr of each of ratchet teeth 25 whereby to double the brake take up increments provided by the. ratchet.

Since in the operation of the brake lever; the

pull rod lll must rock as well move reciproca'bly,

substantially as indicated in dash outline in Figure; 1,a pivotal mounting is= provided for. the guide-- structure for the pull rod. ToA this-end., each ofthe trunnion shell members I8 and lll-is provided with anintegral outwardly protruding Ivvintermediately formed trunnion boss 33V which protrudes sufdciently beyond the semi-cylindrical bodyffZU-to be freely rotatably received. in journal aperturesv 34 provided` in journal plates.A 35 and 361 forming, together withA a topv plate 3l a supporting housing for the-.pullrod guide andfpivot structure.

The journal and housing plates 35 and 35` are preferably formed substantially identically but in reverse order so as tobecomp-lementary. for `assemlcll-y inte the completed housing. Thereriore,v each of the journal. plates preferably fformedasg av sheet metalv shelll which may he stamped to form and includes integral right. an- Aglllarly exten-ding and. arcuately shaped rear edge reenforcing and spacer flange 33 having a .pull rod clearance cut outl 39- anda lower marg'inal abutment inset. Ail. In assembly the edges -of the respective anges! 3'8 abut. and the abutment flanges :it lie in face to vface abutment and Vmaintain a proper spacing of the journal plates 35 .and the rod clearance? cut outs SS'registering and..r"orming an. elongated clearance apert'ure for accommodating rocking :movementI of tliepfull rod. ill. Means such as va rivet 4l extendingv thro-ugh appropriate aligned apertures A inf'tl'lepabutment inset portions 4U secures the journal plates or shells" together.

At theiruppe'r edges the journal plates- 35 and 36 are formed with respective laterally extendingatta'chment flanges d'2. which arev appropriately apcrtured complementary to the plate 3l to besecure'd to the latter by such means as re- ,spectiverivets 43. .For additional rigidity, the

'iianges lil and the plate 31 may be formed' with registering dimple and aperture structure 44. .That is, a dimple punched in one ofthe structures -ts in an aperture providing a socket' in the other of theV structures.

` y l In' addition, the flanges the plate 3l are formed with aligned faperturestl. to accommodate respective attachy.nient bolts lil by which the housing assembly is secured to the underslung ange' portion of the dash panel I il.

Having reference to Figure 6, it will be apparent that all of the several parts forming components of the pull rod supporting and guiding assembly are so constructed and related as to Thereafter the journal shell plates 35 and 36 are assembled with the trunnion structure il supported therebetween, the top plate 3'! is assembled with the flanges l2 and the housing securely riveted together with the rivets il and d3. Either before or after assembly of the trunnion structure I1 with the housing, the biasing springs 29 and thedetent balls 2l are assembled in the unit, the opening provided by the retaining flange structure 23 in the tube l5 and chimney-like o iisets 43B in the flanges iii above the retaining oisets 251 providing a convenient passage for access to the detent apertures 2li for assembly purposes. Any suitable means (not shown)y may be used for holding the detent balls 2l retracted until the pull rod i5 is inserted into the tube I5.

'In order to facilitate quick assembly, registering means such as offsets 6,9 about the rivet holes in the top plate 3l may be provided for registering with complementary offsets 59 in the ilanges d2, In addition, a central longitudinal ofiseti may be formed in the plate- 31 provi-ding centeringV and reenforcement shoulders 52 engageable with the shoulders. provided at the juncture of the ilanges 42 with the respective journal. plates 35 and 3.6.

To set the brake, of course, the handle il' is grasped and pulled to' draw 'the pullf rod Il! through 'the' guide tube ligand. the detent balls 2*"4 will act to hold the pull rod in any preferred brake setting position.

To. release the brake all` that need be done is to turn the handle i l', as permitted by itssliding engagement within the guide tube l5 until the ratchet teeth. 25 are clear ofthe ball detents! vlhereuponV the strainjof. the brake cable will pull the pull rod forwardly to released position.

Upon release of the handle vil following release of the brake, the pull rod Ill is promptly returned to its initial position whereinthe ratchet teeth 25 register operatively with the ball detents 2T. Means for effecting this may comprise a tensioning spring 53 which may be in the form of a spiral spring maintained under torsional'load by Ithe engagement of one terminal 54 in an appropriate aperture 55jin the draw rod It and the engagement of the opposite terminal identiiied at 5] in an appropriate aperture 58 formed. in a clevis member 58 by which the forward. end portion of the draw rod Il) is pivotally connected to the lever l2.

' As best seen in Figures 1 andy 5, the clevis 5S is preferably formed from sheet metal 4bent to appropriate form providing an, eye $0 Within which the end portion of the draw rod IU is received rotatably.

A coupling permitting limited rotary movement and no relative axial movement between the draw rod' Eiland the clevis 59 is afforded by means of a pin` 6| which is driven through a transverse bore 62 in the end portion of the draw rod and has a head. 63' which ,is received in an appropriate chordal slot 54 in the wall of the eye t@ of the clevi's. Thereby, the clevisv 59 is held fory move.- ment with the draw rod l0 in an axial direction -but the rod isrotatable within the limits permitted by the slot 64 and which limits are such as to permit approximately rotation of the rod in one direction to eiect release of the'ratehet teeth 25 from the ball detents 2'! as indicated in dash outline in Figure 4. The return spring 593 I is so loaded that it normally maintains the 'rod Pivotal connection of the clevis 59 andthe lever I2 is effected in a suitable manner as for example by means of a rivet B5.

In order to permit readyruncoupling fof the clevis 59 from the drawrod I0 when necessary, an access or knockout aperture El is formed'in the wall of the eye i for registrationv With the endof ythe pin 6I so that the latter can be. driven from itslJress-tted assembled relationship with the draw rod I0. v

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may bevaried through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a brake lever assembly, a guide tube for a ratchet rod, a trunnion structure comprising a pair of trunnion shells secured together about said tube, and a supporting journal structure comprising a pair of shell members secured together about said trunnion structure and affording bearing for the trunnion shells.

2. In combination in a brake lever assembly, a reciprocal and rotary rod, a guide tube within which said rod is slidably supported, a trunnion structure comprising a pair of sheet metal shells secured together in supporting relation about said tu'be and having integral oppositely extending coaxial trunnions, and a journal housing having journals within which said trunnions are engaged and supporting said trunnion structure.

3. In combination in a brake lever assembly, a rod guiding structure having trunnions thereon, a journal housing for said guide structure comprising a pair of matching journal plates each of which has an angularly turned ange along one edge engageable in abutment with the flange of the other plate to maintain the plates in spaced relation, an inset engagement pad area on each of the plates abutting the pad on the other plate, means securing said pads together, an outwardly extending flange at the top of each of the plates, and a tcp plate secured between said journal plates and to said top nanges.

4. In combination in a brake lever assembly, a trunnion structure comprising a guide tube, and a pair of trunnion plates secured about said tube, said tube and said trunnion plates having interengaging means for holding the tube against movement relative to the trunnion plates.

5. In a brake lever` construction, a trunnion shell having a semi-cylindrical body adapted to receive a guide tube cradled therein, flanges extending from said body for attachment to a counterpart trunnion shell and an integral trunnion boss projecting beyond the periphery at an intermediate point on the body, one of said flanges being intermediately offset to provide one-half of a detent chamber.

6. In a brake lever construction, a trunnion shell having a semi-cylindrical body adapted to receive a guide tube cradled therein, anges ex-1 tending from said body for attachment to a counterpart trunnion shell and an integral trunnion boss projecting beyond the periphery at an intermediate point on the body, one of said flanges having an interlock socket keeper recess oiset therein for engagement with a retaining flange on the tube.

7. In a brake lever construction, a trunnion shell comprising la semi-cylindrical body having an intermediate trunnion boss protruding beyond the periphery thereof, flanges extendingV from` opposite sides of the body, one/'of said flanges having a detent chamber recess oiset therein, the opposite flange having 'a chimney-like offset intermediately therein providing for access toward said chamber offset.

8. In combination in a brake lever assembly, a guide tube for slidably guiding a brake actuating rod member, a pair of trunniony plates secured about said tube, and means for holding the tube against movement relative to the trunnion plates comprising a portion projecting from the periphery of the tube and a socket formation in the trunnion plates Within which said @projection vis engaged. A j

9. In a brake lever `assembly-oi` the character described, a ratchet rod guide tube, a pair of trunnion shells of oppositely complementary construction each comprising a semi-cylindrical body embracingly :assembled on the tube and having an outwardly projecting intermediately formed trunnion boss, flanges extending from the respective opposite sides of the body of each of said shells and secured to the corresponding anges of the companion shell, the flanges on one side of the trunnion shell assembly being relatively offset to provide a detent chamber recess therebetween opening toward the tube, the flanges at the opposite side of the shell assembly having a chimney-like offset cooperative structure intermediately therein opening from the tube outwardly, said tube being apertured therethrough in the portions thereof registering with said chamber and chimney-like offset structure for access through said chimney-like 01T- set structure transversely through the tube into said chamber.

10. As an article of manufacture, a housing structure adapted for supporting an operating rod guiding and control assembly for a straight pull brake lever comprising a ipair of complementary shell members each of which comprises a side wall panel having at its top margin a latenalIy outwardly extending iiange for attachment to a support and at its lower margin an inset spacer and connecting pad, la spacer flange along the rear margin of each of said shells projecting opposite to its top flange, said rear spacer flanges engaging in edge-to-edge abutment and said inset pads engaging in face-to-face abutment and being secured together, said rear spacer :flanges and said attachment pads maintaining said side wall panels in spaced relation to define a rod-guiding mechanism chamber, the front edges of the shells being in spaced relation to define a forward opening from said chamber.

11. As an article of manufacture, a housing structure adapted for supporting an operating rod guiding and control assembly for a straight pull brake lever, a pair of complementary shell members each of which comprises a side wall panel having at its upper margin a laterally extending attachment flange and at its lower margin Ian inset spacer :and connecting pad, a spacer ilange along the rear margin of each of said shells projecting opposite to said top flange, said rear spacer anges engaging into edge-to-edge abutment and said inset pads engaging in faceto-face abutment and being secured together, said rear spacer flanges and said attachment pads maintaining said side wall panels in spaced relation to dene a rod-guiding mechanism chamber, the front edges of the shells being in spaced relation to define a forward opening from 7 said chamber, and a rgidifrying 'andlcorniactiug plate permanently secured across and on top of said yupper marginal flanges, saidl uppr marginal anges Vand. said -pflate being apertured in 'registration for passage of attachment *0016s. for securing the assembly to a supporting sizructure4 RAY A. SANDBERG.

'REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofreoord-in th 10 le of this patent:

UNITED STATES V'PA'LENLS Troendle May 2,1911

Number Nafme 133115124r Layman ,Junevl?, 1.921 Gehrig .Mar, 20, 19,23 Mitchell 1Doi). 16, 1934 `Mitch011 June"2,5, 1' 93 5 McKeroher Dec,v 6, 19138 Fergson Feb. 24 1942 Jandus supp. 15, 1942 Heller Dec. A8, 19,42 'skarien Jan. 1 9, 1943 Jandus sept. 21, 1943 Jandu'sv June 5, 1945 Fergueson Oct.'21,`1947 

